Music Arcade

This week, the crew gets distracted from the main quest to delve into some mini-games on the side.
Of course, Final Fantasy mini-games can't be ignored, but we also dive into Pokémon, Tekken, ULTRAKILL, and more!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #99

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠
We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social
And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

Final Fantasy VIII - "Shuffle or Boogie" by Nobuo Uematsu
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time - "Sewer Surfin'" by unconfirmed composers (credited as Konami Kukeiha Club)
Pokémon Red/Blue - "Rocket Game Corner" by Junichi Masuda
Rogue Galaxy - "Factory (In Editing)" by Tomohito Nishiura
Tekken 8 - "Our Tekken Ball (Climax)" by Shogo Nomura
Final Fantasy X - "Blitz Off" by Masahi Hamauzu
Tiny Toon Adventures: Wacky Sports Challenge - "Birdman Contest" (unconfirmed title) by an unconfirmed composer
ULTRAKILL - "Lakeside Songbook" by Heaven Pierce Her
Soul Calbur III - "Nameless Calamity" by Ryuichi Takada
Yakuza Kiwami 2 - "Cabaret Grand Prix" (unconfirmed title) by an unconfirmed composer (credited soundtrack composers include: Yuri Fukuda, Keitaro Hanada, Hidenori Shoji, Saori Yoshida, Sachio Ogawa, Chihiro Aoki)
Destiny - "Circuit Runner" by Skye Lewin (unconfirmed title and composer)

Production credits:
Hosts:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone
Ranakel
Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:
Ranakel

Writing and publishing:
Edie Alexsander

Art and design:
Alex Hadzaman

This week, friend of the podcast Sam finds an isolated Galen and the duo decides to make lemonade out of the lonely lemon by tackling themes of isolation.
From isolation in the magical world of Final Fantasy VI to an isolated vampire in Vampyr, we try not to let things get too lonely.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #98

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠
We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social
And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):

Final Fantasy VI - "Dark World" by Nobuo Uematsu (unconfirmed arranger - full list of "A New World" arrangers include: Arnie and Eric Roth, Shiro Hamaguchi, Adam Klemens, Casey Ormond, and Nobuo Uematsu)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - "The Lost Woods" by Manaka Kataoka
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward - "Anxiousness" by Shinji Hosoe
Silent Hill 2 (Remake) - "White Noise (Actual Noise)" by Akira Yamaoka
Persona 4 - "Who's There?" by Shoji Meguro
Vampyr - "The Struggle" by Olivier Deriviere
Nier: Automata - "Dependent Weakling" by Kuniyuki Takahashi

Production credits:
Hosts:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone
Sam "Zeral"

Audio producer:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:
Ranakel

Writing and publishing:
Edie Alexsander

Art and design:
Alex Hadzaman

This week, the leylines align, refresh our MP and have us discuss songs about that most fantastical of gaming elements: magic!
Join us as we get into magical bouts in Street Fighter V, deal with ancient magic in Divinity 2: Ego Draconis, and also just marvel at the kinds of musical magic Tim Follin pulls off in Solstice and... Pictionary?!

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 97

Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠
We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social
And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):
Fate/Grand Order - "Corridor of Memories" by Keita Haga
Dark Savior - "Presentiment Clock Tower" (unconfirmed title) by Hiroshi Kondo
Age of Wonders 4 - "Sphere of Influence" by Michiel van den Bos
Solstice - "Title Screen" (unconfirmed title) by Tim Follin
Pictionary (NES) - "Title Theme" (unconfirmed title) by Tim Follin
Chrono Trigger - "Corridors of Time" by Yasunori Mitsuda (cover by Luke Pickman aka InstrumentManiac)
Street Fighter V: Champion Edition - "Theme of Rose" by Hiroshi Takaki
Atelier Rorona ~The Alchemist of Arland~ - "Dark Domain" by Ken Nakagawa
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II - "Seidh" by Davíd Garcia Diaz and Heilung (Kai Uwe Faust, Maria Franz, and Christopher Juul)
Dynasty Warriors 6 - "Ignition (Yellow Turban)" by MASA (Masayoshi Sasaki)
Elden Ring - "Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon" by Yuka Kitamura
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - "The Twin Moon Knight" by Tai Tomisawa
Divinity 2: Ego Draconis - "Ancient Presence" by Kirill Pokrovsky

Production credits:
Hosts:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone
Ranakel
Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:
Ranakel

Writing and publishing:
Ranakel
Edie Alexsander

Art and design:
Alex Hadzaman

This week, the crew - minus one - brings an optimistic vibe to the conversation. And no, the "minus one" isn't our resident Goth.
We take a personal approach and show the many forms of optimism, including an optimistic look back through the Game Awards medleys, an optimistic look forward in Chrono Trigger, and just sheer, distilled optimism in The Wonderful 101.

You can listen along to the music discussed here via the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade 96
Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠
We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.social
And on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGU

Song credits (in order of discussion):
The 2025 Game Awards Game of the Year Medley, by Lorne Balfe (featuring compositions by Jan Valta, Ludvig Forssell, Lorien Testard, Christopher Larkin, et al.)
The Wonderful 101 - "The Won-Stoppable Wonderful 100 (English Version)" by Hiroshi Yamaguchi (lyrics by Brian Gray)
Anno 1800 - "Dance of the FIreflies" by Dynamedion
Rise of Nations - "Santiago" by Duane Decker
Soul Calibur II - "Unwavering Resolve" by Junichi Nakatsuru
Mega Man 7 - "Freeze Man Stage" by an unconfirmed composer (soundtrack by Yuko Takehara, Toshihiko Horiyama, Makoto Tomozawa, and Ayako Mori)
Devil May Cry V - "Devil Trigger" by Casey Edwards, ft. Ali Edwards and Cliff Lloret
Chrono Trigger - "Chrono Trigger" by Yasunori Mitsuda ("Main Theme" cover by Malcolm Robinson)
Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania - "Treasure Room" by Konami Kikeiha Club (Masanori Adachi and Taro Kudo) ("The Treasury Room" cover by Daniele Zandara)

Production credits:
Hosts:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone
Ranakel
Edie Alexsander

Audio producer:
Galen "The SoundGuy" Firestone

Executive producer:
Ranakel

Writing and publishing:
Edie Alexsander

Art and design:
Alex Hadzaman

This week, the crew takes out some crystal balls (and the Wikipedia page for 2026 in video games) to take a peek into the future. So join us as we discuss the 2026 edition of our yearly list of games we're most excited about when it comes to music.You can check known songs, trailers, or related music for the games discussed on this episode by checking the playlist on our YouTube channel: Music Arcade #95Looking to get in touch with us? You can find us at ⁠[email protected]⁠
We're also on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/music-arcade.bsky.socialAnd on Discord: ⁠https://discord.gg/aM5WWGUProduction credits:Hosts:Galen "The SoundGuy" FirestoneRanakelEdie AlexsanderAudio producer:Galen "The SoundGuy" FirestoneExecutive producer:RanakelWriting and publishing:Edie AlexsanderArt and design:Alex Hadzaman